Bonalu Celebrated With Fervor in Old City Amid Tight Security
Devotees especially women thronged temples and offered ‘bonam’ containing cooked rice laced with jaggery to the goddess Sri Mahankali and other deities as thanksgiving for fulfilling their wishes.
Hyderabad: Amid tight security, the colourful Bonalu festival was celebrated with fervor in Old City and elsewhere in Hyderabad and its suburbs on Sunday.
Anticipating a huge rush later in the day, devotees especially women clad in pattu sarees thronged temples and offered ‘bonam’ containing cooked rice laced with jaggery to the goddess Sri Mahankali and other deities as thanksgiving for fulfilling their wishes.
Several lanes and bylanes in Lal Darwaza, Hari Bowli, Sultan Shahi, Bela and Sabzi Mandi, among other areas in Old City, wore a festive atmosphere. These lanes were decorated with colourful LED lights to welcome devotees.
The committee members of Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza, Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple and Bangaru Maisamma temple in Hairbowli, Sri Muthyalamma temple at Bela, Sri Bhagyalaxmi temple at Charminar, Sri Darbar Maisamma temple in Karwan made special arrangements for the convenience of devotees.
IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, on behalf of the State government, offered silken robes to the presiding deity at the historic Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple in Haribowli in Old City and performed special prayers. BRS MLC K Kavitha took part in the celebrations at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza. Hyderabad Collector Dasari Harichandana offered prayers at Sri Darbar Maisamma temple in Karwan.
The bonalu celebrations were also organized in other parts of Hyderabad and its suburbs. Traffic restrictions were imposed at the major temples in Amberpet, Malkajgiri and Lower Tank Bund
On their part, the police department made elaborate security arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the festival. Personnel of Task Force, SHE Teams, Special Branch and other wings were deployed for bandobust duty.
The two-day festival with conclude on Monday with ‘Rangam’ ritual followed by the centralized procession of ghatams of temples in old city.
